Los Angeles Lakershttp://www.businessinsider.com/category/los-angeles-lakers
en-usTue, 03 Mar 2015 14:12:09 -0500Tue, 03 Mar 2015 14:12:09 -0500The latest news on Los Angeles Lakers from Business Insiderhttp://static3.businessinsider.com/assets/images/bilogo-250x36-wide-rev.pngBusiness Insiderhttp://www.businessinsider.com
http://www.businessinsider.com/suns-gm-explains-lakers-pick-sixers-2015-2Phoenix Suns GM explains why he traded the Lakers pick that could be one of the best in the drafthttp://www.businessinsider.com/suns-gm-explains-lakers-pick-sixers-2015-2
Tue, 24 Feb 2015 14:32:00 -0500Tony Manfred
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/52a5eb2269beddf778312cfc-1200-900/kobe-bryant-returns-lakers-raptors.jpg" border="0" alt="kobe bryant returns lakers raptors"></p><p>The Phoenix Suns were the most active team at <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nba-trades-deadline-2015-2">the NBA trade deadline</a>.</p>
<p>They lost Goran Dragic, Isaiah Thomas, and the Los Angeles Lakers' 1st-round pick. They acquired Brandon Knight, two future Miami Heat 1st-round picks, and Marcus Thornton.</p>
<p>Getting rid of that Lakers pick in a three-team trade that brought them Knight was one of the most criticized trades of the deadline.</p>
<p>The pick is top-five protected in 2015 — meaning the Lakers keep it if it's pick No. 1 through No. 5.</p>
<p>If the Lakers keep it this year, then it rolls over to 2016, when it's only top-three protected.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It's a great asset, and the Suns gave it up for Knight, a middle-tier point guard who's a restricted free agent this summer.</p>
<p>In <a href="http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2015/2/21/8079225/phoenix-suns-general-manager-ryan-mcdonough-knight-analytics-dragic-thomas">a Q&amp;A with Bryan Gibberman of SB Nation's Bright Side Of The Sun</a>, Phoenix general manager Ryan McDonough explained why he traded the pick.</p>
<p>His basic reasoning: The pick isn't going to transfer this year because the Lakers are so bad, and it might not be that valuable in 2016 because there's a decent chance the Lakers sign a bunch of free agents and start to get good again.</p>
<p>Here's <a href="http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2015/2/21/8079225/phoenix-suns-general-manager-ryan-mcdonough-knight-analytics-dragic-thomas">what he told Gibberman</a>:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"With a pick like that our analysis was that we probably weren't going to receive the pick this year. That pushes the pick into next year, the protection drops to three, but I think analyzing the Lakers situation there's pretty high variance there as to what the pick could be. If you ask me how the Lakers are going to be a year from now I have no idea. Obviously, they've struggled some recently, but they're going to have a lot of salary cap space this summer and they're in a market that's traditionally been one of the top draws for free agents.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"We know the risks. The pick next year could be the fourth pick in the draft, it could be the 14th pick in the draft, it could be the 30th pick in the draft. We felt it was the right time to cash it in."</p>
<p>That Lakers pick ended up going to the Philadelphia 76ers in the trade. Interestingly, Sixers GM Sam Hinkie also said the Lakers are probably going to keep that pick this year.</p>
<p>"My guess is the Lakers pick is very unlikely to convey this year for a whole host of reasons," <a href="https://soundcloud.com/kneubeck/hinkie-trade-deadline-presser">he said at a press conference</a>.</p>
<p><span>However, he seems to be more bullish than McDonough about it being a high pick in 2016, when the Lakers can only keep it if they're one of the three worst teams in the league.</span></p>
<p>"Those picks do not move around very much," Hinkie said in explaining why he gave away Michael Carter-Williams in the trade. "It is almost impossibly hard to get your hands on a pick that at least has a chance to be a high lottery pick. It's very rare that they move."</p>
<p>The Lakers have the fourth-worst record in the NBA right now. If they stay in that position, they'll likely keep their 2015 first-round pick. According to a draft odds table that was <a href="http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/inside-numbers-draft-lottery-qa">published for the first time on Celtics.com last year</a>, the team with the fourth-worst record has an 81% chance of getting a top-five pick.</p>
<p>Unless the Lakers get ridiculously hot and a few other teams collapse, the Sixers would need to get really lucky to get that pick in 2015.</p>
<p>2016 is a different story. As bad as L.A. is this year, the Lakers aren't the type of franchise that goes into a prolonged rebuilding mode. They're going to use their salary cap money this summer one way or another.</p>
<p>Hinkie is betting that they'll still be bad next year, and that pick will be between No. 4 and No. 10. McDonough is betting that they improve enough to bring that pick into the teens.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/suns-gm-explains-lakers-pick-sixers-2015-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cristiano-ronaldo-real-madrid-surprise-football-2015-1">Cristiano Ronaldo, wearing a wig and glasses, surprised a young fan on the streets of Madrid</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-friends-2015-2Kobe Bryant says people like him don't have true friends, just 'like minds'http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-friends-2015-2
Tue, 17 Feb 2015 09:32:00 -0500Tony Manfred
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/542b10b869beddc319d146ab-1072-804/kobe-bryant-los-angeles-lakers-11.jpg" border="0" alt="kobe bryant los angeles lakers"></p><p>Kobe Bryant has positioned himself as something of guru on success in recent years.</p>
<p>He <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/28/fashion/arianna-huffington-kobe-bryant-meditate.html?_r=0">speaks in the sort of platitudes and truisms</a> you typically find in TED talks. He <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-cold-calls-people-2014-7">cold calls CEOs</a> to get their advice. He references everyone from Giorgio Armani to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-met-with-jony-ive-2014-7">Jony Ive</a> to <a href="http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/17/kobe-bryant-compares-himself-to-mozart/">Mozart</a> to describe what makes him a great player.</p>
<p>In <a href="http://www.gq.com/sports/201503/kobe-bryant-nba-allstar?currentPage=1">an interview with GQ's Chuck Klosterman</a>, Kobe talked about the cost of being so enamored with success. He says it's impossible for him to be a "great friend" because he's so single-minded in his focus on work and has no free time.</p>
<p>He says he has friends ("like minds," as he calls them), but not the type of friends where you remember their birthdays or talk to them daily.</p>
<p>From GQ:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>GQ: So how much are you willing to give up? Have you given up the possibility of having friends? Do you have any friends?</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">KOBE: I have "like minds." You know, I've been fortunate to play in Los Angeles, where there are a lot of people like me. Actors. Musicians. Businessmen. Obsessives. People who feel like God put them on earth to do whatever it is that they do. Now, do we have time to build great relationships? Do we have time to build great friendships? No. Do we have time to socialize and to hangout aimlessly? No. Do we want to do that? No.&nbsp;<em>We want to work</em>. I enjoy working.</p>
<p>He later clarified: "I have friends. But being a 'great friend' is something I will never be. I can be a&nbsp;<em style="line-height: 1.5em;">good</em>&nbsp;friend. But not a &nbsp;great&nbsp;friend. A great friend will call you every day and remember your birthday. I'll get so wrapped up in my s***, I'll never remember that stuff."</p>
<p>Kobe's competitiveness is <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-work-ethic-2013-12">one of the key elements of his persona</a>. When you think of Kobe, you think of <em>work</em>, and that's how he wants it to be.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-friends-2015-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cristiano-ronaldo-real-madrid-surprise-football-2015-1">Cristiano Ronaldo, wearing a wig and glasses, surprised a young fan on the streets of Madrid</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/nick-young-iggy-azalea-dolphin-2015-2NBA player claims a dolphin tried to drown him while he was on vacationhttp://www.businessinsider.com/nick-young-iggy-azalea-dolphin-2015-2
Wed, 11 Feb 2015 09:01:00 -0500Cork Gaines
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54db5cafeab8ea4865fac3f0-620-/iggy-azalea-nick-young-mtv-vmas.jpg" border="0" alt="iggy azalea nick young mtv vmas" width="620"></p><p></p>
<p>In a bizarre tale that would be more believable as a bad movie script, Nick Young of the Los Angeles Lakers claims a dolphin tried to drown him over his rapper girlfriend, Iggy Azalea.</p>
<p>The story started earlier this week when Azalea sent out a simple tweet that read, "Nick is scared of dolphins."</p>
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Nick is scared of Dolphins. </p>— IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/564997142427627521">February 10, 2015</a>
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<p>Following the Lakers' game on Tuesday night, Young was asked why he was afraid of dolphins. He then recounted a story about a time he and Azalea went for dolphin rides while vacationing in Cabo.</p>
<p>He said a dolphin tried to take him to the bottom of the ocean and kill him:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"A dolphin was trying to kill me for some reason. He was playing with everybody else. He's doing what dolphins do, the 'ack-ack' and all that. It was my time to ride the dolphin and some reason he took me all the way to the bottom. He's trying to drown me. But I seen it happening so I jumped out the water and took off the little life vest and threw my hat and my little water shows and stayed outside.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"It was my turn, everybody went around in circle, hanging on his little fin, you know. And when I went on, he didn't go around. He just went straight down. He was trying to kill me.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"I think he was trying to get at Iggy because he was a little friendly, kissing her and stuff. He was trying to take my woman."</p>
<p>Classic:</p>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54db5beb6da811cc74326d78-1200-858/02-137.png" border="0" alt="Nick Young quote"></p>
<p>Azalea did later confirm the story on her Twitter account, noting that she wants to go on a wild dolphin snorkel tour and Young now refuses to go.</p>
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A dolphin in Cabo tried to kill him once. I was there and to be fair, it's true. Now he won't go on the wild dolphin snorkel tour. Lol. </p>— IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/564997489627901953">February 10, 2015</a>
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<p>Here is the full video of Young's comments.</p>
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<p class="embed-spacer"></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nick-young-iggy-azalea-dolphin-2015-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cristiano-ronaldo-real-madrid-surprise-football-2015-1">Cristiano Ronaldo, wearing a wig and glasses, surprised a young fan on the streets of Madrid</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-wanted-to-play-with-michael-jordan-on-the-wizards-2015-1Kobe Bryant Wanted To Team Up With Michael Jordan On The Wizardshttp://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-wanted-to-play-with-michael-jordan-on-the-wizards-2015-1
Wed, 28 Jan 2015 18:06:00 -0500William Scott Davis
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/54c7f7ad6bb3f79a6a16e937-1040-780/kobe-bryant-michael-jordan-hug.jpg" border="0" alt="kobe bryant michael jordan hug"></p><p>Kobe Bryant has cemented his legacy as a Los Angeles Laker after 19 years with the team.</p>
<p>But over a decade ago, Bryant almost left the Lakers because he wanted to team up with Michael Jordan on the Washington Wizards.</p>
<p>In the early 2000s, Jordan came out of retirement, sold his minority share of the Wizards, and began playing for the team. Bryant, meanwhile, had won three championships with the Lakers, but was in a feud with Shaquille O'Neal and approaching free agency.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/kobe-bryant-wanted-to-sign-with-washington-wizards-join-michael-jordan/2015/01/26/1a7db904-a565-11e4-a7c2-03d37af98440_story.html">Bryant admitted to Michael Lee of the Washington Post</a> that joining the Wizards was on his mind back then:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"That’s true. A long time ago? Yeah."</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">...</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"I’ve always been very big on having mentors, on having muses and I’ve been really, really big on that. Being around guys who have done it before and done it at a high level and always tried to pick their brains and always tried to absorb knowledge. Obviously, being in that situation [with the Wizards], it would’ve helped having to be around [Michael Jordan] every day and so on."</p>
<p>As Lee goes on to say, the Wizards didn't have the assets to trade for Bryant while he was under contract with the Lakers.</p>
<p>Jordan retired for good at the end of the 2002-03 season, but Bryant still would have liked to join the team to play under Jordan. Wizards owner Abe Pollin took away Jordan's power to run the team, so Jordan couldn't recruit Bryant to the Wizards. A year later, under Ernie Grunfeld, the Wizards went in another direction, and Bryant signed a seven-year, $136 million contract with the Lakers (who also traded away O'Neal).</p>
<p>Bryant and Jordan have very similar playing styles, so the combination of two ball-dominant, scoring wings may have been awkward on the court. Bryant insists it would be an easy fit:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span>"We would’ve put together a great team and we would’ve won championships. Listen, man. There are not a lot of players in this league that say, ‘Come hell or high water, we’re going to get this [expletive] done.’ People can look around and joke around about winning, saying they want to win. For me, it’s a matter of life or death. It was that important to me. And if it’s that important to me, I’m going to get there."</span></p>
<p><span>Ultimately, Bryant has spent the rest of his career with the Lakers where he won two more championships in 2009 and 2010.</span></p>
<p><span>Bryant is expected to miss the rest of this season with a torn rotator's cuff in his right arm.</span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kevin-mchale-on-kobe-bryant-torn-rotator-cuff-2015-1#ixzz3Q3ZBKVWI" >Former NBA Player Offers Harsh Reality About Kobe Bryant's Season-Ending Injury</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-wanted-to-play-with-michael-jordan-on-the-wizards-2015-1#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/kevin-mchale-on-kobe-bryant-torn-rotator-cuff-2015-1Former NBA Player Offers Harsh Reality About Kobe Bryant's Season-Ending Injuryhttp://www.businessinsider.com/kevin-mchale-on-kobe-bryant-torn-rotator-cuff-2015-1
Mon, 26 Jan 2015 11:46:00 -0500William Scott Davis
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54c66b9eeab8ea1b4c8b456e-1065-799/kobe-bryant-shoulder-3.jpg" border="0" alt="kobe bryant shoulder"></p><p>It was announced Friday that Kobe Bryant had a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder.</p>
<p>Bryant injured his shoulder while playing against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-shoots-lefty-vs-pelicans-2015-1">prompting him to play left-handed</a> in the fourth quarter of a 96-80 loss.</p>
<p>Though there's no official word on whether Bryant will undergo surgery, <a href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/12217628/kobe-bryant-los-angeles-lakers-season-torn-rotator-cuff">he is expected to miss the rest of the season</a>.</p>
<p>For Bryant, this would be the third straight year in which his season was ended prematurely by injury. In 2012-2013, he tore his Achilles tendon, and in 2013-2014, he missed the end of the season with a knee injury.</p>
<p>Former NBA player and Houston Rockets head coach <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/41045/mchale-on-kobe-it-happens-to-everybody">Kevin McHale weighed in</a> on Bryant's injury and offered a harsh reality:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Eventually, this catches up to you, man. Kobe's a great player, but I've seen other great players. When your time's up, your time's up, man. It's too bad, but it happens to everybody.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I wish him all the best. I've always admired him. I think he's a hell of a competitor, but everything comes to an end. In my case, my body just said, 'You weren't playing anymore,' and I said, 'OK.'</p>
<p>Bryant is 36 years old and playing in his 19th NBA season. Despite his high mileage, he was still averaging nearly 35 minutes per game this year.</p>
<p>With one more year on his contract, many people expected next season to be his last.</p>
<p>Bryant is also known for being a stubborn, willful player who many people believe will not end his career unless it's on his own terms. If Bryant wishes to play one more season (or even beyond), he would be smart to take his time recovering from this injury, and then return next season and accept a lesser role. </p>
<h3><strong><br>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/vintage-sneakers-classic-editions-shop-2015-1">Why Men Are Paying $1,500 And More For Secondhand Sneakers</a></strong></h3>
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<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></p>
<h3><strong><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/vintage-sneakers-classic-editions-shop-2015-1"></a></strong></h3><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kevin-mchale-on-kobe-bryant-torn-rotator-cuff-2015-1#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-shoots-lefty-vs-pelicans-2015-1Kobe Bryant Injured His Right Shoulder, So He Played Left-Handedhttp://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-shoots-lefty-vs-pelicans-2015-1
Thu, 22 Jan 2015 12:22:00 -0500William Scott Davis
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54c126bf69bedd291b9135d4-1065-799/kobe-bryant-shoulder.jpg" border="0" alt="kobe bryant shoulder"></p><p>Kobe Bryant, at 36 years old, is doing everything he can to help the 12-31 Lakers, averaging an incredible 22 points, five rebounds, and five assists in 35 minutes per game this season.</p>
<p>Despite the gaudy stat line, Bryant's efficiency is way down. Bryant is shooting just 37% from the field, 29% from 3-point range, and a career-worst 47.7% true shooting.</p>
<p>Bryant has turned into an efficient chucker for this lottery-bound Lakers team, and that's with his dominant right hand.</p>
<p>Wednesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans, Bryant injured his right shoulder on a dunk in the third quarter, grimacing as he made his way up the court. He sat out most of the fourth quarter, but with five minutes remaining and the Lakers down 13, Bryant checked back into the game, and began <em>shooting left-handed</em>.</p>
<p>With the game practically out of reach — not that wins matter much for the Lakers at this point, and the team went on to lose, 96-80 — most players would have sat out, avoiding the risk of worsening the injury. Bryant still attempted two shots with his left hand, one of which he made:</p>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54c124adeab8ea93749135d7/kobe%20bryant%20lefty%201.gif" border="0" alt="Kobe Bryant lefty 1"></p>
<p>The other one he missed pretty badly:</p>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54c124cceab8ea94749135d3/kobe%20bryant%20lefty%20miss%202.gif" border="0" alt="Kobe Bryant lefty miss 2"></p>
<p>Kobe Bryant's toughness has never been questioned, but this is foolish of Bryant. The Lakers have no shot at the playoffs this season, and with Bryant's logging heavy usage and high minutes, it makes sense to just shut him down or significantly cut his minutes to avoid hurting him further.</p>
<p>Bryant tried to downplay the injury after the game:</p>
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Kobe downplayed sore right shoulder: “I averaged 40 a whole month on a torn labrum." </p>— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/558110105586384897">January 22, 2015</a>
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Kobe: “The reality is, I’m doing some pretty phenomenal things in 30 minutes. My body is not that f____d up." </p>— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/558111773535264768">January 22, 2015</a>
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<p>As <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/kobe-bryant-injured-his-shoulder--then-decided-to-play-left-handed-071941036.html">Eric Freeman of Yahoo said</a>:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Yes, Kobe did prove his commitment to staying on the court, but he established that trait long ago. The overwhelming impression of his decision to keep playing is something close to stubbornness or selfishness — only a player with an inflated sense of his own value would think his one-armed presence essential to victory.</p>
<p>Many expect next season, the final year on Bryant's contract, to be his final in the NBA. The Lakers have a load of cap space this summer and could manage to put together a competitive team around Bryant in his final year. There's no point in Bryant playing big minutes for a lottery-bound Lakers team, much less with his dominant arm injured.</p>
<h3><strong><br>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/vintage-sneakers-classic-editions-shop-2015-1">Why Men Are Paying $1,500 And More For Secondhand Sneakers</a></strong></h3>
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<h3><strong><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/vintage-sneakers-classic-editions-shop-2015-1"></a></strong></h3><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-shoots-lefty-vs-pelicans-2015-1#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/nba-franchise-values-2015-1NBA Franchise Values Have Skyrocketed Since The Clippers Salehttp://www.businessinsider.com/nba-franchise-values-2015-1
Wed, 21 Jan 2015 17:06:05 -0500Cork Gaines
<p>The value of the average NBA franchise jumped 74.4% in the last year and has more than doubled in the last two years according to the <a href="http://www.forbes.com/nba-valuations/">latest valuations released by Forbes.com</a>.</p>
<p>Of course, the biggest factor this year was the $2 billion purchase of the Los Angeles Clippers by former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Even if Ballmer overpaid for the Clippers, something many people believe, it still showed that Forbes was underestimating how much people would be willing to pay for NBA franchises. In fact, the Clippers had the biggest one-year jump in value, rising 178% to $1.6 billion and are now the fifth-most valuable team.</p>
<p>The Los Angeles Lakers are the most valuable franchise at $2.6 billion, followed closely by the New York Knicks at $2.5 billion.</p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/54c0217c6da811b73ddac330-800-600/01-713.png" border="0" alt="NBA Franchise Values Chart"></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nba-franchise-values-2015-1#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-lebron-james-missed-dunk-2015-1Kobe Bryant Had A Great Reaction To LeBron James Missing An Alley-Oop Dunkhttp://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-lebron-james-missed-dunk-2015-1
Fri, 16 Jan 2015 09:26:00 -0500Cork Gaines
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54b91e106da8110011c887c6-1200-632/lebron-james-and-kobe-bryant-3.jpg" border="0" alt="LeBron James and Kobe Bryant"></p><p><br>Something strange happened when the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers met on Thursday night. LeBron James and Kobe Bryant both seemed to be having fun during the Cavs win.</p>
<p>It was an unusual sight for the two superstars having tumultuous seasons.</p>
<p>The best example of their back-and-forth trash-talking, jabbing, chit-chatting, and smiling during the game came after James missed an alley-oop dunk.</p>
<p>Alley ... oops.</p>
<center><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/54b9183469bedd1b7fd23c9c/01-14.gif" border="0" alt="LeBron James Missed Dunk"></center>
<p>A seemingly embarrassed LeBron came back down the court with a smile on his face in anticipation of what Bryant was going to say and Kobe did not disappoint.</p>
<p>According to LeBron after the game, Kobe simply told him "that's what old age gets you."</p>
<center><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54b9199869beddae0cd23c99/02-5.gif" border="0" alt="LeBron James and Kobe Bryant"></center>
<p>At another point in the game, Kobe Called James "an Old Head," to which <a href="https://twitter.com/Rachel__Nichols/status/555984061965934592">LeBron told Rachel Nichols</a>, "you know what, he's right."</p>
<p>After the game, LeBron told the media that he "loves where [Kobe] is at right now," noting that Bryant is "not as moody as he was before."</p>
<p>Kobe later <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/555981575154700288">responded to LeBron's claim saying</a>, "If we were contending for a championship, I'd be my same moody self."</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-lebron-james-missed-dunk-2015-1#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-shooting-2014-12Kobe Bryant Is Shooting The Lakers Into A Top-5 Pickhttp://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-shooting-2014-12
Mon, 22 Dec 2014 10:22:00 -0500Tony Manfred
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/542b114769bedd7b2202ebce-1072-804/kobe-bryant-los-angeles-lakers-12.jpg" border="0" alt="kobe bryant los angeles lakers"></p><p>Y<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">ou could argue that Kobe Bryant is having the most inefficient scoring season in NBA history.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p>The ugly facts:</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">He's taking 22 shots per game and making 37.2% of them. Since 1962, only eight players have taken 20 shots per game and shot less than 40%.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">In the shot clock era, Kobe has the lowest field goal percentage for a player taking at least 20 shots per game in season.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">He's one of 11 players to ever take five three-pointers per game and make less than 30% of them in a season.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The Lakers get outscored by 13.3 points per 100 possessions when Kobe is on the court — the 2nd-worst net rating on the team.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">He has missed more shots (380) than all but 22 other NBA players have taken.</span></li>
</ul>
<p>He's scoring 24.6 points per game (fourth in the NBA), but he's doing it in a historically inefficient way.</p>
<p>We love Kobe. But this year the things hardcore NBA fans have always criticized him for — shooting too much, running too much isolation, taking low-percentage shots — have far outweighed the things he does well.</p>
<p>On Sunday night against the Sacramento Kings he shot 8-for-30 and turned it over nine times.</p>
<p>Without a star player he trusts, Kobe has taken it upon himself to be the team's entire offense, and it has backfired.&nbsp;No one taking this many shots has ever shot this badly.</p>
<p>The silver lining here is that the Lakers have a strong incentive to be bad. If L.A. doesn't finish with a top-five draft pick, their first-round pick goes to the Phoenix Suns. The difference between being the fifth-worst team in the league and the 10th-worst team in the league is massive. It's the difference between getting one of the best players in the draft and getting no one. As <a href="https://twitter.com/teamziller/status/547026931489595392">SB Nation's Tom Ziller noted</a>, the Lakers might be content to let Kobe shoot them into a top-five pick.</p>
<p>The Lakers have the sixth-worst record in the league right now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Kobe has one-year left on his contract at age 36. The post-Kobe era is fast approaching, and next summer's draft could become&nbsp;a crucial first step in moving on from one of the best players ever.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-shooting-2014-12#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/jeanie-buss-lakers-tanking-2014-12Lakers Owner Explains Why Her Team Will Never Tankhttp://www.businessinsider.com/jeanie-buss-lakers-tanking-2014-12
Fri, 12 Dec 2014 15:21:00 -0500Tony Manfred
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/548b4aafeab8eab95c27d6ff-1200-924/jeanie-buss-lakers-influence-3.jpg" border="0" alt="Jeanie Buss Lakers Influence"></p><p>Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and her brother Jim did <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12000240/lakers-owner-jeanie-buss-says-tanking-unforgivable">an interview with ESPN's Ramona Shelburne</a> about the state of the franchise.</p>
<p>The Lakers have not only one of the worst records in the NBA at 6-16, but also an incentive to stay bad, at least for the rest of the 2014-2015 season.</p>
<p>Because of the 2012 Steve Nash trade, LA keeps its 2015 first-round pick only if it's in the top five. If it's sixth or higher, it goes to Phoenix.</p>
<p>Because the team has little hope of making the playoffs anyway, a lot of people think they just trade away their valuable pieces, try to be as bad as possible, and keep their draft pick. There's some speculation that <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/akers-secret-tanking-2014-11">this has been the team's secret plan all along</a>, but LA has been adamant it is not tanking.</p>
<p>When <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12000240/lakers-owner-jeanie-buss-says-tanking-unforgivable">asked about tanking</a>, Jeanie Buss said her team would never do it. Her explanation is pretty interesting. It isn't really about ethics; it's about player development:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">The teams that use tanking as a strategy are doing damage. If you're in tanking mode, that means you've got young players who you're teaching bad habits to. I think that's unforgivable. If you're tanking and you have young players or you keep a short roster, you're playing guys out of their position or too many minutes, you're risking injury. It's irresponsible and I don't think it belongs in any league.</p>
<p>Are the Sixers ruining guys like Nerlens Noel, Michael Carter-Williams, and K.J. McDaniels by playing them 35 minutes per game on the worst team in the league?</p>
<p>Some would argue the opposite — that giving young players more minutes speeds development and helps teams identify strengths and weaknesses.</p>
<p>But even if you believe that tanking is detrimental to player development in the long-term, the incentive to be bad enough to get a top-five pick in 2015 is overwhelming for the Lakers. The difference between being the fourth-worst team in the league and the eighth-worst team in the league is the difference between getting a potential franchise-altering player and getting no one.</p>
<p>The Lakers need that pick, and it wouldn't take much to get it.<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> LA has the fifth-worst record in the NBA. If the team trades someone like Jeremy Lin (who's on an expiring contract and won't be back with the team next year anyway), it could possibly get a second-round draft pick back and improve its chances of finishing in the bottom five and keeping its pick.</span></p>
<h3><strong><br>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/skydiver-spins-out-of-control-parachute-2014-12">Dramatic Video Shows A Skydiver Spinning Out Of Control At 13,000 Feet</a></strong></h3>
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<h3><strong><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/skydiver-spins-out-of-control-parachute-2014-12"></a></strong></h3><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/jeanie-buss-lakers-tanking-2014-12#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-explodes-at-practice-2014-12Kobe Finally Snaps On The Lakers And Calls Them 'Soft Like Charmin'http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-explodes-at-practice-2014-12
Thu, 11 Dec 2014 15:51:00 -0500William Scott Davis
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/548a002c6da8118c3dc7a9ad-1034-775/kobe-bryant-lakers-rockets-6.jpg" border="0" alt="Kobe Bryant Lakers Rockets"></p><p>It was only a matter of time until Kobe Bryant snapped.</p>
<p>The Los Angeles Lakers are 6-16 with no sign things turning around. Bryant, the fierce competitor that he is, has shouldered an <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-gunslinger-2014-11">unprecedented amount of responsibility</a> at 36 years old to try to help the team win.</p>
<p>According to Mike Bresnahan, the Lakers beat reporter for the Los Angeles Times, Bryant was "extremely unhappy" with his teammates during the Lakers practice Thursday.</p>
<p>Bresnahan tweeted the details of Bryant's outburst:</p>
<div><div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>
Kobe extremely unhappy on the practice court. "Now I see why we've lost so many games. We're soft like Charmin!" </p>— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/543129776320290817">December 11, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></div>
<p>Kobe then cursed at Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak:</p>
<div><div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>
Kobe yelled to Kupchak while leaving practice court: "These (expletives) aren't doing (expletive) for me." Didn't think team practiced hard. </p>— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/543130514480046080">December 11, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></div>
<div><div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>
More Kobe: He didn't think the second unit did a good enough job today. Starters crushed them in scrimmage. </p>— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/543134830540513280">December 11, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></div>
<p>Kobe has suffered through bad Lakers team before, but during those years, he was in his prime, valuable, and had options if he wanted to leave L.A.</p>
<p>Now, at 36, Bryant is owed over $48 million through next season — a contract no team will be willing to take on. Bryant has also refuted the idea that after 18 years, he'd be willing to play with any other team but the Lakers.</p>
<p>Bryant's defended his team throughout the season, but he seemed to hit a breaking point on Thursday. Or perhaps it was just Nick Young that put him over the edge:</p>
<div><div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>
Epic trash talk between Kobe and Nick Young at practice. Young to Kobe: "Nobody in the world can guard me. Nobody!" </p>— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/543129321703882752">December 11, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
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<p class="embed-spacer"></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mike-dantoni-describes-hardest-part-of-coaching-kobe-bryant-2014-12#ixzz3LciwbhgV" >Former Lakers Head Coach Describes The Hardest Part Of Coaching Kobe Bryant</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-explodes-at-practice-2014-12#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/mike-dantoni-describes-hardest-part-of-coaching-kobe-bryant-2014-12Former Lakers Head Coach Describes The Hardest Part Of Coaching Kobe Bryanthttp://www.businessinsider.com/mike-dantoni-describes-hardest-part-of-coaching-kobe-bryant-2014-12
Tue, 09 Dec 2014 17:43:00 -0500William Scott Davis
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54861f9d6bb3f75767e3dc49-933-700/mike-dantoni-kobe-bryant-lakers.jpg" border="0" alt="mike dantoni kobe bryant lakers"></p><p>Former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni resigned at the end of the 2013-14 season following two disastrous seasons with the team.</p>
<p>Several players had issues with D'Antoni's fast-paced, offensive style of coaching, including Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol who were both vocal about disagreeing with D'Antoni's methods. Earlier this season, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-rips-mike-dantoni-2014-9">Bryant took a shot at D'Antoni's priorities</a>, saying he wasn't concerned enough with winning.</p>
<p>In an <a href="https://soundcloud.com/siriusxmnba/mike-dantoni-talks-about-his-time-with-the-lakers-the-positives-negatives-of-kobe-bryant">interview with Sirius XM NBA Radio</a>, D'Antoni described coaching Bryant, including the best and toughest parts of it. The toughest aspect:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"He has that determination and near-sightedness that he doesn't see the fringes too much. He sees one goal and he's going for it. He's going over you, under you, whatever, but he's getting right where he wants to go. And sometimes that makes it a little tough to coach him."</p>
<p>D'Antoni had prefaced those criticisms by saying Bryant has an incredible work ethic, and he'll strive to be the best player in the NBA as long as "humanly possible." D'Antoni said it's inspirational to be around Bryant's work ethic and his determination.</p>
<p>The Lakers had a combined 67-87 record under D'Antoni, with bad coaching, injuries, and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/lakers-steve-nash-trade-backfired-2014-10">plain bad luck</a> playing a major part in their ineptitude.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-on-michael-jordans-best-trait-2014-12#ixzz3LLX2UXyl" >Kobe Bryant Talks About The Trait That Made Michael Jordan So Successful</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mike-dantoni-describes-hardest-part-of-coaching-kobe-bryant-2014-12#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-trade-2014-11The 2011 Chris Paul Trade Veto Was A Disastrous Move By The NBAhttp://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-trade-2014-11
Mon, 17 Nov 2014 17:22:00 -0500Tony Manfred
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/532f2fc869bedd16496eba8b-1200-924/chris-paul-clippers-dwight-howard-doc-rivers-4.jpg" border="0" alt="Chris Paul Clippers Dwight Howard Doc Rivers"></p><p>In one of the strangest, most controversial decisions in recent league history, NBA commissioner David Stern <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-lakers-2011-12">vetoed a trade that would have sent Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers</a> in early December of 2011.&nbsp;</p>
<p>A week later the NBA accepted a trade that sent Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers, altering the trajectories of three franchises in the process.</p>
<p>At the time the league owned the New Orleans Hornets, Paul's team, after <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/dailyfix/2010/12/06/nba-takes-drastic-step-of-buying-hornets/">buying them from George Shinn in 2010</a>. While the league owned the team, they let general manager Dell Demps make the player-personnel decisions ... until he tried to trade Paul to the Lakers.</p>
<p>According to Howard Beck of the New York Times, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/sports/basketball/paul-set-to-join-lakers-as-part-of-3-team-deal.html">Stern vetoed the trade at the behest of other owners</a>, including Dan Gilbert of the Cavs, who thought the deal was too good for the Lakers. The NBA's decision <a href="http://deadspin.com/5866620/five-bullshit-things-about-david-sterns-bullshit-veto-of-the-chris-paul-trade">was roundly criticized at the time</a>, and it looks even worse now.</p>
<p>Here's the package the NBA rejected from the Lakers, which would have been a three-team trade with the Rockets:</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>Hornets get:</strong> Goran Dragic, Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, and New York's 2012 1st-round pick (which became Royce White)</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>Lakers get:</strong> Chris Paul</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>Rockets get:</strong> Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom</span></li>
</ul>
<p>Stern ultimately accepted this deal from the Clippers:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;">Hornets get:</strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu, and Minnesota's 2012 1st-round pick (which became Austin Rivers)</span></li>
<li><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;">Clippers get:</strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> Chris Paul, two 2nd-round picks</span></li>
</ul>
<p>Three years later, this has been a terrible trade for the Hornets.</p>
<p>Kaman now plays for Portland and Aminu plays for Dallas. Austin Rivers <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/PerDiem-121226/nba-austin-rivers-having-worst-season-ever">had one of the worst rookie years ever</a>, and has yet to average more than eight points in a season.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Gordon, the centerpiece of the trade, has been undone by a succession of injuries. This year he's off to a horrific start. He's averaging nine points per game and shooting 23% from three-point range — a far cry from the 22.3 points per game and 36% three-point shooting numbers he put up in his final season in Los Angeles. On a New Orleans team that has playoff aspirations, he has been more of a detriment than an asset. He's also on a crippling contract that pays him $15 million in 2015-16.</p>
<p>The NBA couldn't have known the trade would work out like this back in 2011.&nbsp;Eric Gordon was only 22 years old and coming off a season where he scored 22.3 points per game. There was a chance he'd become a perennial All-Star shooting guard.</p>
<p>That didn't happen.</p>
<p>Three years later, with the power of hindsight, it's clear the Lakers' offer that the NBA vetoed was better. Goran Dragic is one of the best point guards in the NBA, and he's about to get a max contract next summer. Martin and Scola are also better than any role player New Orleans got from the Clippers.</p>
<p>The Hornets (now Pelicans) ultimately lucked out, winning the 2012 NBA Draft lottery and taking Anthony Davis — who looks like the third-best player in the NBA early in this season. But that trade was an absolute fiasco, and New Orleans would have been in a much better position right now if the league never intervened in the first place.</p>
<p>The NBA hired <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5399241">Demps to be general manager</a>, and had no business overruling him on a basketball decision. It was always going to go down as one of Stern and the league's greatest failures, especially now that the NBA so obviously took the wrong deal.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-paul-trade-2014-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-philosophy-about-failing-2014-11Kobe Bryant Has A Great Philosophy On Failurehttp://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-philosophy-about-failing-2014-11
Thu, 13 Nov 2014 15:19:00 -0500William Scott Davis
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5464e0d5ecad044525bb084e-1170-877/kobe-bryant-returns-lakers-raptors-5.jpg" border="0" alt="kobe bryant returns lakers raptors"></p><p>Kobe Bryant set an infamous record Tuesday night, becoming the all-time leader in missed shots in the NBA. Bryant, of course, had a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-response-to-missed-shots-record-2014-11">great response about the record</a>, noting his role and career longevity have played a part in all of his misses.</p>
<p>After the game, <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/40363/misses-add-up-to-big-part-of-kobes-legacy">Bryant was asked</a>&nbsp;about his approach to the game, being willing to take a lot of shots and live with them if he misses. He defiantly answered "No" when asked if he's ever been afraid of a moment or game, and then he shared his fantastic philosophy about failing in big moments:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"And I don't mean to sound cavalier when I say that, but never. It's basketball. I've practiced and practiced and played so many times. There's nothing truly to be afraid of, when you think about it."&nbsp;</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">...</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>"No, because I've failed before, and I woke up the next morning, and I'm OK,"</strong> he said. "People say bad things about you in the paper on Monday, and then on Wednesday, you're the greatest thing since sliced bread. I've seen that cycle, so why would I be nervous about it happening?"&nbsp;</p>
<p>When reporters mentioned that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82JpPKvY74I">Michael Jordan made a commercial about his failures</a>, Bryant noted&nbsp;the similarities. "Y<span>eah, philosophically, it's exactly the same thing. I grew up watching that stuff, and here I am. His approach to things has been inspirational to a kid growing up watching him."&nbsp;</span></p>
<p>It's not the first time Bryant has been candid about facing failure. In a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/28/fashion/arianna-huffington-kobe-bryant-meditate.html?_r=0">sit-down with the New York Times</a>, Bryant told how his 11-year old daughter shared a similar feeling about getting over nervousness for math tests: once it's done, it's done. Asked about being afraid to take the big shot at the end of the game, Bryant said, "<span>There’s an infinite groove. Whether you make the shot or miss it is inconsequential."</span></p>
<p>It's good Bryant is OK with missing shots and handling the criticism afterward, unafraid of failure. He's going to need to keep <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-taking-all-the-shots-2014-11">taking a lot of shots this season</a>, and with another year left on his contract, his record might go unbroken.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-response-to-missed-shots-record-2014-11#ixzz3Iy5fi58W" >Kobe Bryant Had A Simple Response To Finding Out He Broke The Record For Most Missed Shots</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-philosophy-about-failing-2014-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-gunslinger-2014-11Kobe Bryant Is Now A Gunslinger Of Historic Proportionshttp://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-gunslinger-2014-11
Thu, 13 Nov 2014 12:58:00 -0500Cork Gaines
<p>We recently took a look at how many shots Kobe Bryant is taking this season as it compares to his most recent full season (<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-taking-all-the-shots-2014-11">a LOT</a>). But to get a better sense of just how much of a gunslinger he has become, let's compare Kobe to the other top shooters in the NBA.</p>
<p>Bryant is leading the NBA with 27.7 points per game but he has also taken 18 more shots than anybody else in the league. More importantly, he has taken those shots in one fewer game than the NBA's second-most prolific shooter, Carmelo Anthony.</p>
<p>To put it another way, Kobe is taking 25.2 shots per 36 minutes, 5.2 more than anybody else this season. That would also be the most shots per 36 minutes in 33 years (George Gervin, 25.4 in 1981-82) and the fifth-most in the shot clock era (1954-55 through present; min. 50 games).</p>
<p>And based on Kobe's 54 shots taken in the last two nights combined, there is no sign that he plans to stop slinging anytime soon.</p>
<p><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5464e4edecad04e138bb0849-800-600/01-645.png" border="0" alt="Kobe Bryant"></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-gunslinger-2014-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-response-to-missed-shots-record-2014-11Kobe Bryant Had A Simple Response To Finding Out He Broke The Record For Most Missed Shotshttp://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-response-to-missed-shots-record-2014-11
Wed, 12 Nov 2014 11:11:45 -0500Cork Gaines
<p><img class="full" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5457aa28eab8eac255fd8a49-1200-800/kobe-bryant-la-lakers-1.jpg" border="0" alt="kobe bryant la lakers"></p><p>On Tuesday night, Kobe Bryant missed a 14-foot fadeaway jumper in the fourth quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers' loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. It seemed like just another shot in Kobe's career, but this one was a little bigger.</p>
<p>This particular shot was the 13,418th miss of Kobe's career, setting the all-time NBA record for most missed shots.</p>
<p>After the game, Bryant said he was unaware of the record and didn't pay attention to things like that. But when asked how he felt about being the record holder, Bryant had a fantastic response that was <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/532381848152711170">followed by his signature laugh and shrug of dismissal</a>.</p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54638055ecad04e971a12574-1200-858/01-643.png" border="0" alt="Kobe Bryant Quote"></p>
<p>Kobe put <a href="https://twitter.com/billoram/status/532386621836902400">heavy emphasis</a> on the word "shooting" and you can almost feel Kobe rolling his eyes inside his own mind.</p>
<p>At the end of the day it is a somewhat negative record. But it also says something positive about Bryant</p>
<p>A player has to be pretty good to take 24,542 shots in his career and that is what Kobe has done.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-response-to-missed-shots-record-2014-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/magic-johnson-tweets-lakers-kobe-2014-11Magic Johnson Says The Historically Bad Lakers Are Fun To Watch And Kobe Is An MVP Candidatehttp://www.businessinsider.com/magic-johnson-tweets-lakers-kobe-2014-11
Wed, 05 Nov 2014 16:35:00 -0500Tony Manfred
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/545a88de69beddfe318b4567-1055-791/magic-johnson-lakers-1.jpg" border="0" alt="magic johnson lakers"></p><p>The Los Angeles Lakers are 0-5. They're getting outscored by 14.8 points per game and are currently on pace to be <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tsl_finder.cgi?request=1&amp;match=single&amp;type=team_totals&amp;lg_id=NBA&amp;year_min=&amp;year_max=&amp;franch_id=&amp;c1stat=def_rtg&amp;c1comp=gt&amp;c1val=112&amp;c2stat=&amp;c2comp=gt&amp;c2val=&amp;c3stat=&amp;c3comp=gt&amp;c3val=&amp;c4stat=&amp;c4comp=gt&amp;c4val=&amp;order_by=def_rtg">the worst defensive team in NBA history</a>.</p>
<p>Kobe Bryant has <a href="https://twitter.com/uuords/status/530082351762903040">missed more shots than almost every player in the NBA has attempted</a>.</p>
<p>Despite all that, Lakers legend Magic Johnson is bullish. In a series of tweets on Tuesday, Magic called the Lakers exciting and said Kobe should be in the MVP discussion.</p>
<p>The tweets are kind of unbelievable, in that it's hard to believe he's not just trolling. He <a href="http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/101018johnsonsellstosoonshiong.html">sold his stake in the team in 2011</a>.</p>
<p>The tweets:</p>
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I know the Lakers are 0-5, but they are playing exciting basketball and Kobe is worth the price of admission. </p>— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/530076089709002752">November 5, 2014</a>
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I definitely got a chance to watch 4 early MVP candidates play in Harden, Howard, Wade and Bosh! </p>— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/530077802721460224">November 5, 2014</a>
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Kobe should also be in the early MVP talks with LeBron, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Anthony Davis, Carmelo, Curry, Thompson and Rose. </p>— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/530078848407588865">November 5, 2014</a>
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<p class="embed-spacer">In Magic's defense, there have been a lot of points in Lakers games this year. But that's because their defense is so bad, not because they're an offensive juggernaut. They've been somewhat painful to watch on offense.</p>
<p class="embed-spacer">Kobe is averaging an impressive 27 points per game, but that's because he's shooting the ball like a maniac. He has attempted 40 more shots than anyone else in the league. He's shooting 40.2% on the year — the lowest percentage of his career.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/magic-johnson-tweets-lakers-kobe-2014-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-learned-from-a-cheetah-2014-10Kobe Bryant Perfected A Shooting Technique After Watching A Cheetahhttp://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-learned-from-a-cheetah-2014-10
Mon, 03 Nov 2014 20:15:00 -0500William Scott Davis
<p><span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-work-ethic-2013-2">Incredibly competitive</a><span>&nbsp;and</span><span>&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-cold-calls-people-2014-7">insatiably curious</a>,&nbsp;Kobe&nbsp;</span><span>Bryant is known for getting insights on how he can improve from everywhere.&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/28/fashion/arianna-huffington-kobe-bryant-meditate.html">Talking with the New York Times</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">, he recently revealed that he even learned a basketball technique while watching cheetahs on the Discovery Channel:</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"When you watch me shoot my fadeaway jumper, you’ll notice my leg is always extended. I had problems making that shot in the past. It’s tough. So one day I’m watching the Discovery Channel and see a cheetah hunting. When the cheetah runs, its tail always gives it balance, even if it’s cutting a sharp angle. And that’s when I was like: My leg could be the tail, right?"</p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5453ccb6ecad045219be0238-1200-600/cheetah-running-7.jpg" border="0" alt="cheetah running"></p>
<p>It seems like a silly source of inspiration, but Bryant's fadeaway jumper is practically unguardable, and it's become something of a signature move over the course of his career.</p>
<p>In a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzt8wOz5Ku4">YouTube mix of Bryant's patented jumper</a>, still-shots show Bryant's form is consistent and his leg is helping his balance:</p>
<p><span><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5453a5b9eab8ea022fbe023d-617-463/kobe-bryant-fadeaway-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Kobe Bryant Fadeaway 1"><br></span></p>
<p><span><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5453a67b6bb3f74231c62483-615-461/kobe-bryant-fadeaway-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Kobe Bryant Fadeaway 2"><br></span></p>
<p><span><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5453a9d2ecad04451fbe0238-611-458/kobe-bryant-fadeaway-3-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Kobe Bryant Fadeaway 3"></span></p>
<p>Given the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/lakers-lose-blowout-to-houston-rockets-2014-10">Lakers' lack of talent surrounding Bryant this season</a>, we'll likely get to see Bryant shoot his fadeaway jumper plenty of times.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/lakers-kobe-bryant-2014-10#ixzz3HjjnilTy" >One Play That Shows Perfectly Just How Bad The Lakers Will Be This Season</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-learned-from-a-cheetah-2014-10#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-classic-response-question-2014-11Kobe Bryant Has A Classic Response When Asked If The Lakers' Horrific Record Bothers Himhttp://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-classic-response-question-2014-11
Sun, 02 Nov 2014 16:50:00 -0500Tony Manfred
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5456a50decad041d23944796-774-580/kobe-bryant-confused.png" border="0" alt="kobe bryant confused"></p><p>The Los Angeles Lakers have started the season badly, so badly that some are wondering if they're <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/10/29/7088823/la-lakers-kobe-bryant-tanking">secretly tanking</a>.</p>
<p>L.A. is 0-4 after a 127-104 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night. They're getting outscored by 17 points per game, the worst point differential in the league.</p>
<p>Kobe Bryant, who has taken heat for everything from his <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-defends-contract-2013-11">$48-million contract extension</a> to his <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryant-lakers-free-agency-2014-10">frosty relationship with potential free agent targets</a>, isn't used to this sort of losing. He has only played on two sub-.500 teams in his career.</p>
<p>Combine this unprecedented losing with <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bryants-best-quotes-from-2013-2013-4">Kobe's penchant for saying whatever is on his mind</a>, and we're going to get a lot of classic Kobe quotes this year.</p>
<p>On Saturday night we got a great one.</p>
<p>Kobe was asked if the 0-4 start bothered him. He gave <a href="https://vine.co/v/OOg1TF1ueEg">this sarcastic response</a>, which was accompanied by an incensed head shake:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"No it doesn't bother me. I'm festively jovial about it."</p>
<p>The video is fantastic:</p>
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<p class="embed-spacer">The Lakers have played a ridiculous schedule so far. Three of the teams they've lost to were in the playoffs last year, and the other (Phoenix) won 48 games.</p>
<p class="embed-spacer">Things don't get much easier from here. They get Phoenix, Charlotte, Memphis, New Orleans, San Antonio, Golden State, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, and Denver in their next 10 games. At 0-4, they probably haven't hit rock bottom yet.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-classic-response-question-2014-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/lakers-kobe-bryant-2014-10One Play That Shows Perfectly Just How Bad The Lakers Will Be This Seasonhttp://www.businessinsider.com/lakers-kobe-bryant-2014-10
Thu, 30 Oct 2014 11:08:00 -0400Cork Gaines
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/545244156bb3f7921863f753-600-/kobe-bryant-43.jpg" border="0" alt="Kobe Bryant" width="600"></p><p>The Los Angeles Lakers <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/lakers-lose-blowout-to-houston-rockets-2014-10">are in trouble this year</a>.</p>
<p>One big concern is that the Lakers are not very good defensively and are going to have trouble stopping opponents from scoring. This is no secret.</p>
<p>But maybe the bigger concern is that Kobe Bryant knows this team is not very good and he is going to try and win games all by himself.</p>
<p>The problem with this strategy is other teams know this.</p>
<p>During Wednesday night's loss to the Phoenix Suns, we saw a perfect example of the Lakers' 1-on-5 offense and why it is going to mean a lot of losses in Kobeville.</p>
<p>The play starts with Kobe setting a half-hearted pick for Jeremy Lin.</p>
<p><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/54523c4f6bb3f7697d63f755-802-409/10-30-2014%208-22-37%20am.png" border="0" alt="10 30 2014 8 22 37 AM"></p>
<p>Kobe now wants the ball. He doesn't get the ball.</p>
<p><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/54523cb169bedd806863f750-800-411/10-30-2014%208-26-02%20am.png" border="0" alt="10 30 2014 8 26 02 AM"></p>
<p>Kobe still wants the ball. He still doesn't get the ball.</p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/54523d04ecad04465563f759-804-411/10-30-2014%208-27-27%20am.png" border="0" alt="10 30 2014 8 27 27 AM"></p>
<p>Kobe still wants the ball. This time he finally gets the ball.</p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54523da869bedd756263f75b-802-411/10-30-2014%208-30-13%20am.png" border="0" alt="10 30 2014 8 30 13 AM"></p>
<p>But here is where things really go south. Kobe is now 1-on-1 with the defender at the top of the key. 2012-13 Kobe would already been two steps past the defender on the way to the basket.</p>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54523ee4ecad04766363f751-801-421/10-30-2014%208-35-30%20am.png" border="0" alt="10 30 2014 8 35 30 AM"></p>
<p>Instead, Kobe dances around around and when he does start to make a move we get to see how teams will probably defend the Lakers this season. That is, just throw three defenders at him knowing he probably won't pass the ball.</p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54523fbdeab8ea0a7263f758-810-436/10-30-2014%208-38-04%20am.png" border="0" alt="10 30 2014 8 38 04 AM"></p>
<p>Both Wesley Johnson and Jeremy Lin, two players who can hit a long shot, are wide open on the wings to take a three-point shot. But Kobe isn't even thinking about passing the ball.</p>
<p>Instead, the shot clock winds down and Kobe is forced to take a long three-pointer. Bryant's shot doesn't even hit the rim and the Lakers went on to lose by 20.</p>
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